For newly hired Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley, joining an organization he watched his father help build into a dynasty during his childhood is like getting reacquainted with old family.

"I say 'family' because that's what I know it as. All of my early memories in life somehow revolved around the Steelers," said Haley during an introductory news conference at the Steelers' South Side facility on Thursday.

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Haley, 44, went to Upper St. Clair High School and was a ball boy for the Steelers while growing up. His father, Dick, was Pittsburgh's director of player personnel in the 1970s and 1980s.

While introducing his new coordinator, head coach Mike Tomlin said he was "really impressed by Haley's genuine love for the Pittsburgh Steelers," calling it a "unique element."

Tomlin, whose expectation of "the standard is the standard" has become the team's mantra, said former Steelers players-turned-coaches Carnell Lake and Jerry Olsavsky exhibited similar qualities.

"(I'm) always interested in guys that know what the standard of the Pittsburgh Steelers is all about," Tomlin said.

Haley said he had a chance to join the Steelers coaching staff in 2004 when former head coach Bill Cowher offered him a job as wide receivers coach, but ultimately chose the same position on Bill Parcells' coaching staff in Dallas.

"It was one of the toughest decisions I've ever had to make. I had buddies back in the South Hills talking about how I was going to stop at the tailgates and I go, 'No, I'm going to the Cowboys.' You think you want a bad reaction, that was a bad reaction," said Haley.

This time around, he arrives in Pittsburgh with the perception of a coach who's not afraid to go toe-to-toe with his players, as evidenced by prior shouting matches on the sidelines.

"One of the first things I'll say to these guys is we're not going to be real into a lot of sensitivity. If you're sensitive, it's probably not the best place to be, but I have to adhere to it too. I dish it out, but I have to take it," he said.

Haley said he's just trying to be the best coach he can be and recalled a story about how his dad wouldn't have the local newspaper delivered to their home while working for the Steelers.

"I'm like, 'Dad, why don't you read the sports?' He said, 'You'll be affected in some way by somebody that's seeing it from a different perspective and it may affect a decision you want to make,'" Haley recalled. "He's been pretty hard line on me since I've been in the NFL business of 'You're not listening to anything? You're not watching anything, are ya?' And I've got to be true to my dad."

Whether or not perception is truly reality, Haley suggested talking to a few of his former players and colleagues before forming an opinion of the type of coach he is.

"I'd say go talk to Keyshawn (Johnson) and Larry Fitzgerald and Kurt Warner and Kenny Whisenhunt and those guys if you want to know, but it's not for me to answer," said Haley.

Haley cited Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh and his brother, Jim, head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, as passionate coaches. Both led their teams to conference championship games in 2011.

"Its about the end result. When I got let go in Kansas City, and the calls and texts I got from players there -- Derrick Johnson, Dwayne Bowe, all those guys -- as a coach, means something to you," said Haley. "If they know you have their goals in mind and they all want to be great players, as good as they possibly can be, once they figure it out that that's what you care about, it's a non-issue, generally."

As for whether he'll coach from the sidelines or up in the box on game days, Haley said that's yet to be decided.

When asked if there will be a renewed dedication to the running game -- something team President Art Rooney II has stressed -- Haley said the emphasis will be on winning, especially championships.

"There's a very high expectation here in the city of Pittsburgh. I understand what's expected from the fans and the city of Pittsburgh," he said. "We have one goal, and that was made very clear."

As offensive coordinator with the Arizona Cardinals, Haley featured a pass-heavy offense behind quarterback Warner and receivers Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.

As head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, Haley's teams were more run-oriented with Jamaal Charles in the backfield.

When asked which facet his offense in Pittsburgh might favor, Haley said it'll be whichever one serves the team -- and his players -- best.

"I'm just a believer offensively that you do what gives you the best chance to succeed. If your best chance to succeed is running the ball 63 times a game, then you run it 63 times a game," said Haley. "I'm going to do what gives our players the chance to be the best they possibly can be."

Haley was Arizona's offensive coordinator in 2007 and 2008, helping lead the Cardinals to Super Bowl XLIII against the Steelers.

Whisenhunt served as tight ends coach and offensive coordinator with the Steelers before taking over the reigns of the Cardinals in 2007.

Haley said there will be some carryover in his offense, but that it also goes back much further in the Steelers' coaching tree.

"Coach (Ron) Erhardt was here a few years ago, and when he left Pittsburgh, he came to the Jets, where I was a scout and transitioned into coaching. From a system standpoint, which is really just terminology to me as much as anything, which is a very important aspect of communication, there's a lot of carryover," said Haley.

Haley went 19-26 in 45 regular season games as head coach of the Chiefs after being hired in 2009.

His best season at the helm was in 2010, when he led Kansas City to a 10-6 record and an AFC West division title. The Chiefs would lose to the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.

Bruce Arians was not retained as the Steelers' offensive coordinator when his contract expired after the 2011 season. The team said he retired, but Arians told a York newspaper that he simply was not offered a new contract. He was hired as the offensive coordinator of the Indianapolis Colts less than two weeks later.

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